Dr. Jim has been at NU since April, 2008. Some (not me) are saying that stability of the football staff indicates that he doesn't want to win. I took a look at his hirings, which to me say anything but complacency.
Rock Solid Programs
LAX
- KAH was hired in 2002, signed contract extensions in 2010 (thru 2015) and 2014 (thru 2022). She must be convinced of NU's commitment to excellence because she could coach pretty much any place she wants.
W Tennis
- Claire Pollard, hired 1999. Millions of consecutive Big 10 titles, no plans to leave before retiring as all time best W Tennis coach
M Tennis
- Arvid Swan, hired by JP in 2009: 151-102 record, solid upper tier Big 10 performer
M Soccer
- Tim Lenahan, hired in 2001: 1-13-3 in first season, 15-6-2 in third year and NCAA 2nd round. Solid guy who could easily coach elsewhere.
W Golf
- Emily Fletcher, hired by JP in 2008, 3 consecutive NCAA finals and Big 10 champs 2 of last 3 years.
Softball
- Kate Drohan, hired 2002, JP signed her to a contract extension in 2013 thru 2018.
In all cases JP successfully retained winners, about all you could ask of an AD.
Now for the other sports. In all cases Phillips fired an underperforming incumbent and brought in his own coach:
W Basketball
- Joe McKeown, hired June 2008....first JP hiring, great recruiter, spotty record.
M Basketball
- Chris Collins, jury is out (don't want to restart the endless BC-CC debates)
Baseball
- Spencer Allen, hired 2016 to replace long time head coach Paul Stevens. Jury is out, but with a new $5 million field should start to see results.
W Soccer
- Michael Moynihan, hired 2012 to replace Stephanie Foster. Arow pointed upwards, 7-0 start is best in recent memory
W Swimming
- Abby Steketee, hired 2015 after being Mountain West COY. Jury is out
M Swimming
- Jarod Schroeder, hired 2009. Meh.
Cross Country
- 'A Havahla Haynes, hired 2015 after being assistant at New Mexico on a team that finished top 3 in the nation. Jury out.
Field Hockey
- Tracy Fuchs, hired 2009. 1st and 2 2nd last 3 years in Big 10, returns NU to former glory after the Kelly McCollum years (never won more than 7 games in a season). Great hire.
Volleyball
- Shane Davis, hired 2016 to replace Keylor Chan (16 years, 236-261, no championships). Jury is out, but holy crap, Davis won a National Championship in Men's VB at Loyola (Chicago)! Probably the best parallel to Men's BB and football.....
Wrestling
- Matt Storiolo, hired 2016 after previous coach fired under mysterious circumstances. Right now a train wreck of a program, National Champion transferred, many highly rated recruits transferred or quit.
On balance, I'd give Phillips pretty high marks. He has retained some excellent coaches and made moves to hire highly regarded coaches to fix underperforming programs (baseball, Field Hockey, Women's soccer, Basketball). One thing I'd say it that unless there is some scandal (wrestling?, Women's Basketball) he isn't quick to pull the trigger. Seems to know who he wants (Collins) and is willing to wait until the time is right to hire the right person. I'd say his record does not support the thesis that he accepts mediocrity in his head coaches.
Rock Solid Programs
LAX
- KAH was hired in 2002, signed contract extensions in 2010 (thru 2015) and 2014 (thru 2022). She must be convinced of NU's commitment to excellence because she could coach pretty much any place she wants.
W Tennis
- Claire Pollard, hired 1999. Millions of consecutive Big 10 titles, no plans to leave before retiring as all time best W Tennis coach
M Tennis
- Arvid Swan, hired by JP in 2009: 151-102 record, solid upper tier Big 10 performer
M Soccer
- Tim Lenahan, hired in 2001: 1-13-3 in first season, 15-6-2 in third year and NCAA 2nd round. Solid guy who could easily coach elsewhere.
W Golf
- Emily Fletcher, hired by JP in 2008, 3 consecutive NCAA finals and Big 10 champs 2 of last 3 years.
Softball
- Kate Drohan, hired 2002, JP signed her to a contract extension in 2013 thru 2018.
In all cases JP successfully retained winners, about all you could ask of an AD.
Now for the other sports. In all cases Phillips fired an underperforming incumbent and brought in his own coach:
W Basketball
- Joe McKeown, hired June 2008....first JP hiring, great recruiter, spotty record.
M Basketball
- Chris Collins, jury is out (don't want to restart the endless BC-CC debates)
Baseball
- Spencer Allen, hired 2016 to replace long time head coach Paul Stevens. Jury is out, but with a new $5 million field should start to see results.
W Soccer
- Michael Moynihan, hired 2012 to replace Stephanie Foster. Arow pointed upwards, 7-0 start is best in recent memory
W Swimming
- Abby Steketee, hired 2015 after being Mountain West COY. Jury is out
M Swimming
- Jarod Schroeder, hired 2009. Meh.
Cross Country
- 'A Havahla Haynes, hired 2015 after being assistant at New Mexico on a team that finished top 3 in the nation. Jury out.
Field Hockey
- Tracy Fuchs, hired 2009. 1st and 2 2nd last 3 years in Big 10, returns NU to former glory after the Kelly McCollum years (never won more than 7 games in a season). Great hire.
Volleyball
- Shane Davis, hired 2016 to replace Keylor Chan (16 years, 236-261, no championships). Jury is out, but holy crap, Davis won a National Championship in Men's VB at Loyola (Chicago)! Probably the best parallel to Men's BB and football.....
Wrestling
- Matt Storiolo, hired 2016 after previous coach fired under mysterious circumstances. Right now a train wreck of a program, National Champion transferred, many highly rated recruits transferred or quit.
On balance, I'd give Phillips pretty high marks. He has retained some excellent coaches and made moves to hire highly regarded coaches to fix underperforming programs (baseball, Field Hockey, Women's soccer, Basketball). One thing I'd say it that unless there is some scandal (wrestling?, Women's Basketball) he isn't quick to pull the trigger. Seems to know who he wants (Collins) and is willing to wait until the time is right to hire the right person. I'd say his record does not support the thesis that he accepts mediocrity in his head coaches.